Duft. The dying JESUS (Never let the comfortable Truth depart from your Minds! The dying JESUS) is your fure Protection, your unqueftionable Pafport through the Territories of the Grave. Believe in Him; and they shall prove "a Highway to Sion;" fhall tranfmit you fafe to Paradise. Believe in Him; and you fhall be no Lofers, but unfpeakable Gainers, by your Diffolution. For, hear what the Oracle of Heaven fays, upon this important Point; Whofo believeth in Me, fhall never die*.-What sublime, and emphatical Language, is This! Thus much, at least, it must import-" The Nature "of that laft Change, fhall be surprisingly altered, for the better. It fhall no longer be inflicted, as a Punishment; but rather be vouchfafed, as a Bleffing. To fuch Perfons, "it fhall come attended, with fuch a Train of Benefits; as will render it a kind of happy Impropriety, to call it Dying. Dying! No; 'tis then they truly begin to live. Their Exit, "is the End of their Frailty, and Their En"trance upon Perfection. Their last Groan, "is the Prelude to Life and Immortality." 66 แ 66 66 O YE timorous Souls, that are terrified at the Sound of the Paffing-bell; that turn pale, at the Sight of an opened Grave; and can scarce behold a Coffin or a Skull, without a fhudder ing * John. xi. 26. ing Horror: Ye that are in Bondage to the grifly Tyrant, and tremble at the Shaking of his iron Rod; cry mightily to the Father of your Spirits, for Faith in his dear Son. Faith will free you from your Slavery*. Faith, will embolden you to tread on (this fierceft of) Serpentst.Old Simeon, clasping the Child JESUS in the Arms of his Flesh, and the glorious Mediator in the Arms of his Faith, departs with TranVOL. I. quillity I *Death's Terror is the Mountain Faith removes: 'Tis Faith difarms Destruction.. Almoft Believe, and look with Triumph on the Tomb. Thefe, and fome other Quotations, I am proud to borrow from the Night-Thoughts, especially from Night the Fourth. In which, Energy of Language, Sublimity of Sentiment, and the most exquifite Beauties of Poetry, are the leaft Perfections to be admired. every Line glows with Devotion; rifes into the most exalted Apprehenfions of the adorable Redeemer; and is animated with the most lively Faith in His All-fufficient Mediation. The Author of this excellent Performance has the peculiar Felicity, of ennobling all the Strength of Stile, and every Delicacy of Imagination, with the grand and diftinguishing Truths of Chriftianity. Thefe Thoughts give the highest Entertainment to the Fancy; and impart the nobleft Improvement to the Mind. They not only refine our Tafte, but prepare us for Death, and ripen us for Glory. I never take up this admirable Piece, but I am ready to cry out--Tecum vivere amem, tecum obeam libens; i. e. Infpire me with fuch a Spirit, and Life fhall be delightful, nor Death itfelf unwelcome,' + Luke x. 19. quillity and Peace. That bitter Perfecutor Saul, having won CHRIST; being found in CHRIST; longs to be difmiffed from cumbrous Clay, and kindles into Rapture at the Profpect of Diffolution". Methinks, I fee another of IM MANUEL'S Followers, trufting in his Saviour; leaning on his Beloved; go down to the filent Shades, with Compofure and Alacrity. In This powerful Name, an innumerable Company of finful Creatures have fet up their Banners: and "overcome, through "the Blood of the Lamb." Authorized by the Captain of thy Salvation, Thou also mayest fet thy Feet, upon the Neck of this King of Terrors. Furnished with this Antidote, Thou also mayeft play around the Hole of the Afp, and put thy undaunted Hand on this Cockatrice-Den. Thou mayeft § feel the Viper fastening to thy mortal Part, and fear no Evil : Thou fhalt one Day fhake it off by a joyful Resurrection, and fuffer no Harm. RESURRECTION! That chearing Word eafes my Mind of an anxious Thought, and fölves a moft momentous Queflion. I was going to afk; "Wherefore do all thefe Corpfes "lie here, in this abject Condition? Is This "their final State? Has Death conquered? "and will the Tyrant hold Captivity captive? How 7, *Phil. i. 23. 2 Tim. iv. 8. + 2 Pet. i. 14· "How long wilt thou forget them, O LORD? "For ever?"-No, faith the Voice from Heaven, the Word of divine Revelation; The Righteous are all "Prifoners of Hope." There is an Hour (an awful Secret That, and known only to all-foreseeing Wifdom) an appointed. Hour there is, when an Act of Grace will pafs the great Seal above, and give them an universal Discharge; a general Delivery from the Abodes of Corruption. Then fhall the LORD JESUS defcend from Heaven, with the Shout of the Archangel, and the Trump of God. Destruction itself fhall hear his Call, and the obedient Grave give up her Dead. In a Moment, in the Twinkling of an Eye, they fhake off the Sleep of ten Thousand Years; and spring forth, like the bounding Roe, to "meet their LORD in the Air." AND, O! with what cordial Congratulations; what transporting Endearments; do the Soul and Body, thofe affectionate Companions, re-unite! But, with how much greater Demonftrations of Kindness, are they both received by their compaffionate Redeemer! The Antient of Days, who comes in the Clouds of Heaven, is their Friend; their Father; their Bridegroom. He comes with irrefiftible Power and infinite. Glory; but they have nothing to fear from his majestic Appearance. Those tremendous Solemni ties, which spread Defolation and Aftonishment thro' the Universe; ferve only to inflame their Love, and heighten their Hopes. The Judge, the awful Judge, amidft all his Magnificence and Splendor, vouchfafes to confefs their Names; vouchfafes to commemorate their Fidelity, before all the Inhabitants of the Skies, and the whole affembled World. HARK! the Thunders are hufhed. See! the Lightnings cease their Rage. The Angelic Armies ftand in filent Sufpence. The whole Race of Adam, is wrapped in pleasing, or anxious Expectation. And now that adorable Perfon, whofe Favour is better than Life; whofe Acceptance is a Crown of Glory; lifts up the Light of his Countenance upon the Righteous. He fpeaks; and what ravishing Words proceed from his gracious Lips! What Ecftafies of Delight, they enkindle in the Breafts of the Faithful! "I accept you, O my People! Ye are they, "that believe in my Name. Ye are they that re"nounced Your felves, and are complete in Me. "I fee no Spot or Blemish in you; for ye are "washed in my Blood, and cloathed with my Righteoufnefs, Renewed by my Spirit, ye have glorified me on Earth, and have been faithful "unto Death. Come, then, ye Servants of Holinefs, enter into the Joy of your LORD. Come, ye Children of Light; ye Bleffed of my Fa→ ther; receive the Kingdom, that fhall never be 66 44 "' re |